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Chris Columbus has raised eyebrows with his candid assessment of HBO’s upcoming Harry Potter television adaptation. The director – known for helming Home Alone, Mrs. Doubtfire, and the first two Potter films – questioned the creative purpose behind the new series during a recent interview.
“So, I’m seeing these photographs… and he’s wearing the exact same costume that we designed for Hagrid. Part of me was like: What’s the point?” Columbus said on The Rest Is Entertainment podcast. “I thought everything was going to be different, but it’s more of the same. It’s all going to be the same.”
His comments came after leaked set photos showed Nick Frost in costume as Rubeus Hagrid alongside newcomer Dominic McLaughlin as Harry Potter. Fans quickly noted how closely the visual design mirrors the original films rather than offering a fresh interpretation.
The director’s skepticism reflects what many longtime Potter enthusiasts have expressed across social media.
HBO’s ambitious adaptation plans to dedicate an entire season to each of J.K. Rowling’s seven novels. The network is reportedly committed to a decade-long production schedule — a substantial investment in the wizarding franchise.
The cast features several established actors taking on iconic roles. Paapa Essiedu will portray the complex Potions master Severus Snape, while Janet McTeer steps into Minerva McGonagall’s shoes. John Lithgow has been cast as Hogwarts headmaster Albus Dumbledore.
Alongside McLaughlin as Harry, the core trio includes Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger and Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley — all relative unknowns tasked with embodying characters deeply ingrained in popular culture.
Production is currently underway with a premiere targeted for 2026.
Columbus shared his thoughts while promoting his latest directorial effort, The Thursday Murder Club. Based on Richard Osman’s 2020 novel, the film features an impressive ensemble including Helen Mirren, Pierce Brosnan, Ben Kingsley, and David Tennant.
The star-studded mystery debuted on Netflix on August 28, giving viewers a chance to see Columbus’s work in a genre quite different from the family adventures that defined much of his earlier career.
